Mattiacci denies Alonso performance clause

Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci has denied that Fernando Alonso has a performance clause in his contract with the Italian team.

"I don't like to comment on our contracts with drivers," he told Sky Sports News ahead of this weekend's home race at Monza, scene of so many victories for the Maranello outfit. "They are assets."

Asked if, as widely speculated, Alonso has a clause in his contract which would allow him to walk away should the team not meet his agreed (performance) requirements, the Italian said. "No, I'm not comment... it is not true."

Looking ahead to this weekend's big race at Monza, where the team last enjoyed victory in 2010 (with Alonso), he said: "The car is improving, it definitely has improved in the last two, three races.

"We are not closing the gap, compared to Mercedes," he admitted, "but it has given us the possibility to be a little bit more competitive."

And while Sunday looks likely to be dominated by Mercedes, Mattiacci is fully sympathetic to the effect his team's continued failure is having on its legendary supporters, the tifosi.

"We want to end the pain and frustration that our fans have been goi9ng through for the last few years," he said.